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Thursday, April 14, 2011
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Current Issue: March 30, 2011
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Railroads Essential to Civil Rights Movement
The Civil Rights Movement was a time when African Americans were tested and tried just because for the color of their skin.
As it is a very important part of history, UTM hosts the Annual Civil Rights Conference were speakers from all around come and talk about its different aspects. One speaker, Dr. Linda Bradford, the project director for the African American Railroad Workers of Fulton Kentucky Oral History Project. Her speech was called Jim Crow Trains, Civil Rights and the Creation of the Black Middle Class.
The speech targeted how railroads were both harmful and beneficial to the African American people during the Civil Rights movement. When the separate but equal doctrine was in effect, nearly everything public was separated into two categories: whites and colored.
This also applied to railways as they were also segregated as buses were. Even if the whites' car was close to empty and the blacks' car was standing room only, they could not sit in with the whites.
It carried over to the dining car as well. Being a server or cook on the railroad was a common job that was mostly filled by African Americans at the time.
Dr. Bradford said that the name of "George" was given automatically to all the black servers on the dining cart by the upper class whites they served and that it was very demeaning to the person being called "George." According to Dr. Bradford, the cooks on a train had to get up and prepare breakfast at 4 a.m. and then work until the end of dinner after all the other people had been served.
The cooks were not allowed to really sleep at all, but instead catch a nap when they could and not get caught because they could still get fired if they were found sleeping on the job.
However, later on the cooks were finally given mattresses or cots. The only problem was that they had to sleep in the "Possum's belly" which was the cook's floor. After all the people were served, they moved the tables and laid out their cots/mattresses on the floor.
Although there were a lot of bad things that affected blacks, there were also a few benefits. For example, different educations were available to the children of the railroad men. And the living conditions for the families of the railroad workers had a better quality of life than other families who weren't affiliated with the railroads.
Another speaker that accompanied Dr. Bradford was Mr. Pete Algee who was a retired railroad engineer.
His inspirational speech told of how he started on the bottom of the chain and worked his way up in the railroad system until he finally found the position he wanted and finally retired.
The speeches given by both Dr. Bradford and Mr. Algee both encouraged thinking about railroads during the Civil Rights Movement.
VIDEO: http://webcast.utm.edu/UTMms01/Viewer/?peid=1065506715614fa88d3504698892e1c51d
Current Issue: March 30, 2011
Home > Campus News
Railroads Essential to Civil Rights Movement
The Civil Rights Movement was a time when African Americans were tested and tried just because for the color of their skin.
The speech targeted how railroads were both harmful and beneficial to the African American people during the Civil Rights movement. When the separate but equal doctrine was in effect, nearly everything public was separated into two categories: whites and colored.
This also applied to railways as they were also segregated as buses were. Even if the whites' car was close to empty and the blacks' car was standing room only, they could not sit in with the whites.
It carried over to the dining car as well. Being a server or cook on the railroad was a common job that was mostly filled by African Americans at the time.
Dr. Bradford said that the name of "George" was given automatically to all the black servers on the dining cart by the upper class whites they served and that it was very demeaning to the person being called "George." According to Dr. Bradford, the cooks on a train had to get up and prepare breakfast at 4 a.m. and then work until the end of dinner after all the other people had been served.
The cooks were not allowed to really sleep at all, but instead catch a nap when they could and not get caught because they could still get fired if they were found sleeping on the job.
However, later on the cooks were finally given mattresses or cots. The only problem was that they had to sleep in the "Possum's belly" which was the cook's floor. After all the people were served, they moved the tables and laid out their cots/mattresses on the floor.
Another speaker that accompanied Dr. Bradford was Mr. Pete Algee who was a retired railroad engineer.
His inspirational speech told of how he started on the bottom of the chain and worked his way up in the railroad system until he finally found the position he wanted and finally retired.
The speeches given by both Dr. Bradford and Mr. Algee both encouraged thinking about railroads during the Civil Rights Movement.
VIDEO: http://webcast.utm.edu/UTMms01/Viewer/?peid=1065506715614fa88d3504698892e1c51d
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
UTM CIVIL RIGHTS CONFERENCE
Thursday afternoon, Feb 24, 2010
Jim Crow Trains, Civil Rights and
the Creation of the Black Middle Class
African Americans and the Railroad, 1930-1970
Video and Discussion
Institutional racism and dehumanizing discrimination are as much a part of American railroad history as the intricate design of its wheels and track. Yet in a strange dichotomy, the railroads' role included actions both good and evil in determining the future of black lives. While rigidly enforcing Jim Crow laws, railroads, albeit unintentional, contributed significantly to the success of the civil rights movement. They provided steady employment for African American workers and travel opportunities for their families that might otherwise not have been possible at that time. Offering freedom and stability, this phenomenon, is credited by many as the foundation for the creation of our nation's politically powerful black middle class.
Facilitators: Dr. Linda Bradford Director, Kentucky Oral History Commission Project: African American Railroad Workers of Fulton Kentucky and Retired Railroad Engineer,Pete Algee.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Jerry Rucker AAICRRW-FK Coordinator
This success of this project balanced, like the proverbial three legged stool, on the commitment of a dedicated team of three. We are saddened beyond comprehension from the loss of team member Jerry Rucker. His contributions to this project were immeasurable and his loss is greatly mourned. We send our warmest and most sincerest condolences to his family.
Linda Bradford
AAICRRW-FK
Hornbeck Funeral Chapel Fulton KY
Jerry Neal Rucker
(August 15, 1945 - November 24, 2010)
He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force serving in the Vietnam Era; was a retired Certified Public Accountant working for the City of Atlanta Accounting Department. He was a former member of the Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church and had earned his pilot license. He was an avid photographer and served as the official photographer for the Twin Cities Railroad Musuem. He also served as a finiancal advisor to the Ken-Tenn Homecoming & Reunion Association. He was an astute golfer and served as a mentor in the Obion Co. Mentoring Program.
He is survived by a daughter Jennifer Rucker of Atlanta GA; 2 brothers Paul (Butch) Alexander of Cottage Green, TN and Michael Alexander of Paducah, KY, and a sister and brother in law Phyllis Alexander Rause (Leon) of Paducah, KY.
He was preceded in death by his father William Rucker, his mother Merless Jones, his step mother, a brother, Charles Alexander and 2 sisters, Donna Vaughn and Ponphola Hutcherson.
Funeral services for Mr. Jerry Neal Rucker will be held at 2PM Saturday at the Brooks Chapel Ministries Church in Fulton KY. Burial will follow in the Obion County Memorial Gardens. Friends may call at the Brooks Chapel Ministries Church after 1PM Saturday until the funeral hour.
Linda Bradford
AAICRRW-FK
Hornbeck Funeral Chapel Fulton KY
Jerry Neal Rucker
(August 15, 1945 - November 24, 2010)
He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force serving in the Vietnam Era; was a retired Certified Public Accountant working for the City of Atlanta Accounting Department. He was a former member of the Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church and had earned his pilot license. He was an avid photographer and served as the official photographer for the Twin Cities Railroad Musuem. He also served as a finiancal advisor to the Ken-Tenn Homecoming & Reunion Association. He was an astute golfer and served as a mentor in the Obion Co. Mentoring Program.
He is survived by a daughter Jennifer Rucker of Atlanta GA; 2 brothers Paul (Butch) Alexander of Cottage Green, TN and Michael Alexander of Paducah, KY, and a sister and brother in law Phyllis Alexander Rause (Leon) of Paducah, KY.
He was preceded in death by his father William Rucker, his mother Merless Jones, his step mother, a brother, Charles Alexander and 2 sisters, Donna Vaughn and Ponphola Hutcherson.
Funeral services for Mr. Jerry Neal Rucker will be held at 2PM Saturday at the Brooks Chapel Ministries Church in Fulton KY. Burial will follow in the Obion County Memorial Gardens. Friends may call at the Brooks Chapel Ministries Church after 1PM Saturday until the funeral hour.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Thursday, August 12, 2010
August 7th Paducah Railroad Museum Exhibit.
For the exhibit, the Paducah Museum transformed our homemade posters into museum quality exhibits. We are most grateful for their gift and will bring them home at the end of the month. Pete Algee will then make them available at two Fulton banks for display during the Sept 17-18 Railroad Heritage days festival.
The original posters are displayed in the Rosenwald School Trophy room.
Each of the exhibited posters is included in the project calendar.
Calendars are available for continuing sale at the Twin Cities Railroad Museum, Noffel's Department Store and by calling the number below.
For DVDs of the May 28th, 2010 presentation ($15.00), please call the project at 731-514-1663.
Photographs by new team member, Jerry Rucker.
May 28, 2010 Oral History Project Presentation. The African American ICRR Workers- Fulton KY
The African American ICRR Workers- Fulton KY
May 28, 2010 Oral History Project Presentation.
The program was held at the Twin cities Railroad Museum and was very successful. It was scheduled to coincide with the city's Ken - Tenn Homecoming Celebration and we were therefore privileged to have many out of towners in attendance...and especially honored to have many with families among the project's honorees.
Final attendance was about 45 and the feedback was very complimentary.
Our sales introduce the project Calendar was well received and as of today (8/11/10) are still being requested. They have been placed for continuing sales at the Twin Cities Railroad Museum, Noffel's Department Store and by calling Pete at the number below.
DVDs of the evening’s presentation are $15.00 from the project at 731-514-1663.
Photos by Jerry Rucker, project coordinator
May 28, 2010 Oral History Project Presentation.
The program was held at the Twin cities Railroad Museum and was very successful. It was scheduled to coincide with the city's Ken - Tenn Homecoming Celebration and we were therefore privileged to have many out of towners in attendance...and especially honored to have many with families among the project's honorees.
Final attendance was about 45 and the feedback was very complimentary.
Our sales introduce the project Calendar was well received and as of today (8/11/10) are still being requested. They have been placed for continuing sales at the Twin Cities Railroad Museum, Noffel's Department Store and by calling Pete at the number below.
DVDs of the evening’s presentation are $15.00 from the project at 731-514-1663.
Photos by Jerry Rucker, project coordinator
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Mr. Lee in videos
Here are two online videos featuring, Mr Lee; photos in the first and an interview in the second.
Enjoy!!
http://www.ket.org/cgi-bin/cheetah/watch_video.pl?name=kkyli_000603_fulton
Enjoy!!
Pullman Porters union and the Civil Rights Movement http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwcD28NdURs&feature=related
Railroad History in Fultonhttp://www.ket.org/cgi-bin/cheetah/watch_video.pl?name=kkyli_000603_fulton
PADUCAH RAILROAD MUSEUM PRESENTATION
The PADUCAH RAILROAD MUSEUM PRESENTATION went very well. With about 20-25 members of their board in attendance, Pete's discussion of his experience of growing up in yesteryear's busting railroad town of Fulton, being hired by the railroad and working as Fulton's first African American Engineer and Station Master served as a great authenticating lead -in for the presentation of the Oral History Interview results and conclusions. A lively Q/A followed and we were invited to curate an African American Rail Workers' exhibit for their museum. I have contacted Corine Harber, the author of the 1998 publication Making Tracks from the Past to the Present: (Paducah) Blacks and the Railroad System about meeting with the museum next month. Additionally they offered us an extra "Colored Waiting Room" sign from their archives for the Twin Cities Museum in Fulton.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
WELCOME
Hello and welcome to African American Illinois Central Workers of the Historic Fulton Kentucky Railroad Station Project Blog.
Click on the titles, pictures and "Read More" links for additional information . At the bottom of each individual page access the "Comments Box" to leave messages on that topic or click the "Home" button to return to this page.
MY DADDY WAS A RAILROAD MAN (poem)
“Headaches and heartaches and all kinds of pain.
They ain't apart from a railroad train. CLICK HERE
INTRODUCTION
Preserving the History of the
African American Illinois Central Workers of the Historic Fulton Kentucky Railroad Station Project
PROJECT OVERVIEW
Click main title below then associated links (note: lg files may load slowly). These are the projects introductory pages. A copy of the full project, 240 pgs with photos and backstories will be given to the library in 2011.
For additional information email the project at: AAICRRW.FK@gmail.com
KENTUCKY ORAL HISTORY COMMISSION
AfrIcan American Illinois Central Workers of the
Fulton Kentucky Railroad Station Project
Linda Holderness Bradford PhD, Project Director
Fulton Kentucky Railroad Station Project
Linda Holderness Bradford PhD, Project Director
John “Pete” Algee, Retired Train Master, Project Coordinator
2009
For additional information email the project at: AAICRRW.FK@gmail.com
RECOMMENDED READINGS, FILM & SHORT VIDEO
African Americans and the Railroad
and the Illinois Central Railroad Readings
"FACES"
AAICW-FK Oral History Project Family and Subjects
Note: the blog host has advised that video availibility may be sporatic.
Note: the blog host has advised that video availibility may be sporatic.
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